LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — “Our focus has been to improve public safety by targeting those who unlawfully possess firearms and use guns to hurt our communities,” said Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge of the Louisville Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on Thursday.
The Lexington Police Department, Kentucky State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announcing the arrests of about a dozen people on gun and drug-related charges on thursday.
The arrests,the result of a joint effort between the three agencies.
“These investigations resulted in the seizure of nearly 100 crime guns as well as dangerous drugs like fentanyl, crack-cocaine and methamphetamine. Collectively. the defendants in this investigation have more than 100 felony arrest for serious crimes including sexual offenses, drug trafficking, robbery with a firearm and non fatal shootings,” said Shawn Morrow with the ATF says joint efforts like these help keep cities safer.
Adding that, “what the community can expect to see is continued participation by federal agents, ATF agents and other federal partners working alongside troopers and Lexington police officers. whenever we’re able to identify somebody who’s, we know has committed a firearms offense, we’re gonna take action and make arrest.”
Officials confirming on Thursday that some of the arrests took place at the Sportsman Motel on Winchester Road.
“This operation focused on a dozen offenders, we, as of this afternoon, we have nine, we, we’re close to having 10 into custody. So, there’ll be a couple others that we’ll be pursuing. But remember, this investigation won’t stop with this, these dozen offenders. We can, we intend to continue our investigation and to the extent we can prove violations of state or federal law, we’ll take action,” added Morrow.
Authorities also adding that as of now, they can’t disclose the names of those arrested due to the ongoing investigation.